Legislators consider using Permanent Fund to close budget deficit

There are currently three proposals aimed at helping to close the state’s budget shortfall using the Permanent Fund. Legislators are weighing which – if any – to support.
Today they heard from their own nonpartisan budget expert on what makes each plan unique.
David Teal, the director of the Legislative Finance Division, notes these proposals would all change the source of Alaskans’ annual dividends.
“Essentially, the money appears to just fall out of the sky,&rdquo